More than 100 Spanish Words with Z

In this article, we will focus on Spanish words with Z. The letters Z and C sometimes get confused with each other because their sounds are similar, depending on which vowel they precede.

The letter C has two sounds, much like in English. For example, you get the /k/ sound in the –ca-, –co– and –cu– combinations or the /θ/ sound with the –ce– and –ci– combinations. However, the letter Z is always pronounced /θ/ in Spain and it can only appear at the end of a syllable or before the vowels –a-, –o– and –u– (-za-, –zo– and –zu– combinations). In Latin America, the letter Z is pronounced similar to the /s/ sound. It’s never followed by –e– or –i-.

Spanish Words with ZA

Here is a list of common nouns with this combination.

1. la adivinanza (riddle)
2. el aterrizaje (landing)
3. la balanza (scale)
4. la belleza (beauty)
5. la cabeza (head)
6. la calabaza (pumpkin)
7. el calzado (footwear)
8. la ceniza (ash)
9. la cereza (cherry)
10. la cerveza (beer)
11. la civilización (civilization)
12. la corteza (tree bark)
13. el danza (dance)
14. la destreza (skill, ability)
15. la esperanza (hope)
16. el fertilizante (fertilizer)
17. la fuerza (strength)
18. la lechuza (barn owl)
19. la limpieza (cleaning)
20. la manzana (apple)
21. la manzanilla (chamomile tea)
22. el manzano (apple tree)
23. la merluza (hake)
24. la mostaza (mustard)
25. la naturaleza (nature)
26. la organización (organization)
27. la pieza (piece)
28. las pinzas (tweezers)
29. la plaza (square)
30. la pobreza (poverty)
31. la raza (race)
32. la riqueza (wealth)
33. el suavizante (conditioner)
34. la taza (cup)
35. la terraza (terrace)
36. la tristeza (sadness)
37. la vergüenza (shame)
38. la zanahoria (carrot)
39. el zapatero or la zapatera (shoemaker)
40. la zapatería (shoe store)
41. el zapato (shoe)

Spanish Words with ZO

Now we’ll review some words with the combination –zo-.

1. el abrazo (hug)
2. el almuerzo (lunch)
3. el antebrazo (forearm)
4. el brazo (arm)
5. el or la buzo (diver)
6. el buzón (mailbox)
7. el cazo (saucepan)
8. el cerezo (cherry tree)
9. el comienzo (beginning)
10. el corazón (heart)
11. el erizo (hedgehog)
12. el esfuerzo (effort)
13. el garbanzo (chickpea)
14. el horizonte (horizon)
15. el ozono (ozone)
16. el pantallazo (screenshot)
17. el pasadizo (passage, alley)
18. el pedazo (piece)
19. el pezón (nipple)
20. el pozo (well, water source)
21. la razón (reason)
22. el trozo (slice, bit)
23. el zodiaco (zodiac)
24. la zoología (zoology)
25. el zoológico (zoo)
26. el or la zombi (zombie)
27. la zona (zone)
28. el zorro (fox)

Spanish Words with ZU

Here is a list of some words with the letters –zu-.

1. el anzuelo (fish hook)
2. el azúcar (sugar)
3. el azucarero (sugar bowl)
4. la azucena (madonna lily)
5. el azulejo (tile)
6. la cazuela (cooking pot)
7. la dulzura (sweetness)
8. el zurdo or la zurda (left-handed person)
9. el zumbido (buzz)
10. el zueco (clog)

Spanish Words with Z at the End

Finally, let’s have a look at some Spanish words ending with Z.

1. la actriz (actress)
2. el ajedrez (chess)
3. el altavoz (speaker)
4. el arroz (rice)
5. el avestruz (ostrich)
6. el barniz (varnish)
7. la cicatriz (scar)
8. el disfraz (costume)
9. la escasez (shortage)
10. el lápiz (pencil)
11. la lombriz (earthworm)
12. la luz (light)
13. el maíz (sweet corn)
14. la nariz (nose)
15. la niñez (childhood)
16. la nuez (walnut)
17. la paz (peace)
18. el pez (fish)
19. la raíz (root)
20. la vez (time)
21. la voz (voice)

In Spanish, words that end with –z have to change the –z into a –c when they are pluralized. This is because the combination –zes does not exist in Spanish.

Additionally, if you are adding a suffix such as –ito, to a word that has a –z in the final syllable, you will also need to change the –z into a –c.

Exercises

Here are some exercises to practice some of these Spanish words with Z. In our blog, you can also do exercises with words containing the letters CH, H, J, K, Ñ, Q, R, W, X or Y.